Police arrested a man suspected of opening fire at an upscale Santa Monica mall Wednesday afternoon and injuring one officer, authorities said.
The incident unfolded at 1 p.m. when an officer attempted to detain an individual at Santa Monica Place who was a suspect in a nearby shooting on Sunday that injured two juveniles in a Waymo self-driving taxi, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.
“During the brief pursuit, the suspect ambushed the officer and fired multiple rounds, striking him before fleeing” the Third Street Promenade area on foot, police said.
The suspect was arrested in Palisades Park at 4:20 p.m. following a tip from a local resident who saw photos of the individual released by police, authorities said. The firearm believed to have been used in the assault was recovered.
The injured officer was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and was expected to make a full recovery, police said. City Councilmember Lana Negrete told KTLA News that the officer was struck in the hand.
“This marks the second time in eight months that a Santa Monica officer has been seriously injured in the line of duty — first by stabbing, now by gunfire,” the Santa Monica Police Department said in a statement. “The officer injured in the earlier stabbing continues to recover. These incidents underscore the risks faced by officers in the line of duty and the continued need for collective commitment to public safety and community partnership.”
Videos from the area showed an escalated police presence while the search for the gunman was underway, causing local businesses to temporarily go on lockdown. SWAT team members were dispatched to help in the search, which appeared to cover a large swath of the downtown and beachside districts, including Palisades Park.
During the manhunt, the public was advised to avoid the area around 4th Street and Colorado Avenue.
L.A. Metro announced that the downtown Santa Monica train station was closed and that buses were being made available. Regular service resumed at 4:45 p.m.
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